House Republicans' $659 Million Legislation for the Immigration, Border Crisis: What You Need to Know
Republicans of the House of Representatives have drafted their own bill to address the immigration crisis at the southern U.S. border, and it comes with a lower budget than President Barack Obama requested.
Speaker of the House John Boehner stated he will not give Obama a "blank check" to help resolve the humanitarian crisis that has seen an increase of undocumented immigrant children crossing the U.S. border without a parent or guardian. While Obama requested an emergency budget of $3.7 billion, House Republicans drafted legislation that provides less than $1 billion and "critical" policy reforms.
In regards to the $3.7 billion request, Republicans have reduced it to $659 million. According to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-KY, the $659 million will be allocated for border security, immigration enforcement and customs laws, humanitarian assistance and prevention of undocumented immigration.
"The funding included in the bill...will provide the tools necessary for our agency personnel to ensure immediate needs are met, but the [Obama] Administration must implement changes to their border policies and fully enforce existing immigration law if we are to adequately address this crisis," said Rep. Rogers in a statement.
Of the $645 million, $334 million will be given to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to "boost" their response, increase and upgrade detention space, cover transportation costs, overtime costs, expedite migrant processing and for additional deportation. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be allocated $71 million.
The presence of the National Guard will be doubled with $35 million in funding while $22 million will be allocated to accelerate judicial proceedings for the undocumented immigrants. The Department of Health will received $197 million to provide temporary housing and assistance to unaccompanied minors, while $40 million will go toward repatriation assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
The draft also includes changes to a 2008 law to expedite the return of undocumented immigrant children to their home countries. The 2008 law currently covers undocumented immigrants from Mexico, but House Republicans seek to expand it to Central American countries.
The bill grants additional temporary immigration judges in order to reduce the lengthy waiting periods between detention and potential deportation.
The bill does not mention any form of amnesty for the undocumented.
The White House stated Obama will veto the bill if passed.
"We can assure you that this bill would make the problem worse," said Principal Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz. "It would do so because children would be deported without due process and undercut public safety by shifting resources away from deporting criminals."
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have proposed a $2.7 billion bill for the border crisis, but it also includes funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile program and combatting wildfires in the western U.S.
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